Key Penske figures exit after Indy 500 qualifying scandal

Three senior figures at the Team Penske IndyCar squad have departed as the consequences from the Indy 500 qualifying scandal are still unfolding.

Josef Newgarden and Will Power had already been sent to the rear of the field, the team has been fined a total of $200,000, and race strategists for each driver were suspended after illegal modifications were found on the rear attenuator of their cars.

Penske has now taken things a step further by announcing the departure of IndyCar team president Tim Cindric after 26 years with the organisation. Cindric already stepped back from his day-to-day leadership role in January following last year’s push-to-pass scandal, while his son Austin currently competes full-time for Penske in the NASCAR Cup.

Cindric was also the chief race strategist for Newgarden, and he is not the only one being sent out of the door on Wednesday morning.

Managing director Ron Ruzewski, who was also the race strategist for Power, has been relieved of his duties after 21 years with Penske. Additionally, general manager Kyle Moyer is also departing the organisation after 11 years.

“Team Penske will have further announcements this week related to personnel and replacements for this weekend’s Indianapolis 500,” read a statement from the team.

Roger Penske released his first public statement since this all began on Sunday, stating: “Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and our race teams.

“We have had organisational failures during the last two years, and we had to make necessary changes. I apologise to our fans, our partners, and our organisation for letting them down.”

Penske echoed the words of IndyCar president Doug Boles, who held a press conference on Monday where he said this scandal is “devastating” to Penske personally.